Siblings Doug Stephens, of Reading, and Kim Hughes, of Montgomery, stand with their father’s 1942 Willy’s sedan at the Pumpkin Run Nationals, held Oct. 2-4 at the Clermont County Fairgrounds. Their father, Charlie Stephens, of Deer Park, passed away in February, and the two paid tribute to him by exhibiting the car at the event.

Siblings Doug Stephens, of Reading, and Kim Hughes, of Montgomery, stand with their father’s 1942 Willy’s sedan at the Pumpkin Run Nationals, held Oct. 2-4 at the Clermont County Fairgrounds. Their father, Charlie Stephens, of Deer Park, passed away in February, and the two paid tribute to him by exhibiting the car at the event.
By Megan Alley and Kelly Doran
Sun staff

The Pumpkin Run Nationals numbers may have been down this year, but enthusiasm during the Run’s 40th year was not.

There were 2,419 cars registered this year, slightly less than the 2,500 in 2014. Attendance was likely the highest on Sunday, when the weather was warmer and drier, said Tanya Beaumont, public relations manager for Fastiques Rod and Custom.

“I think it went well,” Beaumont said. There were no major issues.

The grand prize this year was a 1940 Willy’s Coupe, which was won Janine Cox, of Perrysburg, who also won the Pumpkin Run grand prize car two years ago, said Beaumont.

From left, Joe Hancock and Jack Ramsey, both Shriner members, drive miniature cars around the Pumpkin Run National Vintage Car Show on Oct. 4, 2015 at the Clermont County Fairgrounds. The show is the club’s premier fundraising event for Shriners Hospitals for Children - Cincinnati.
“I’m still in shock,” Cox said. Staff at the Pumpkin Run told her no one has ever won twice before.

In 2013 Cox won a 1932 Ford Roadster. She told her husband, Joe, that he could have this car because she got the last one.

“He has a list of cars he’d love to have in his lifetime and a ‘40 Willy’s Coupe is one of them,” Cox said.

This is at least the eighth year that the Janine and Joe Cox have been to the Pumpkin Run. A love for cars is a family trait for them and their sons.

In addition to the exciting car prize, the Pumpkin Run shirts this year were red in honor of the show’s anniversary, which Beaumont said went over really well.

Classic cars and car decorations abound at the Pumpkin Run Nationals on Oct. 3, 2015.
Ken Powell and Peggy Guess visited the event Saturday and Sunday from Ryland Heights, Kentucky. Powell, who is in his fifth year attending the Pumpkin Run, said the cars and the swap meet brought him to the event this year.

“It’s a great day for the show,” Powell said. “I’m looking for parts to finish my 1955 Chevrolet station wagon.”

He added, “I partly found what I was looking for.”

Guess said that she has been into cars for as long as she can remember.

Darrick Farmer, of Portsmouth, looks under the hood of a 1954 Chevrolet bus, owned by Steve Rennick, of Fairfield, at the Pumpkin Run National Vintage Car Show, held Oct. 2-4, 2015 at the Clermont County Fairgrounds.
“I love all the cars,” Guess said.

Exhibitor Doug Stephens, of Reading, and his sister Kim Hughes, of Montgomery, came to the event to display their father’s 1942 Willys sedan. Their father, Charlie Stephens, of Deer Park, died in February.

“My dad had this car since 1966,” Doug Stephens said. “He did all the work himself.”

As a boy, Doug Stephens remembers attending car shows with his dad, and while he isn’t into fixing cars like his father was, he and his sister wanted to come to the show to display the car and to talk to people.

“People come up, and they know he passed away, and tell us what a great guy he was,” Doug Stephens said. “It’s like a reunion.”

Hughes said the weekend has been emotional.

“It’s a great tribute to my dad,” she said. “He’s very well known all around here.”

Exhibitor Steve Rennick, of Fairfield, brought his 1954 Chevrolet bus to the show. Rennick, who has owned the bus for about three years, completely refurbished the automobile, which he purchased in Missouri.

“We did all the work,” Rennick said. “When we got it, the tires were all rusted off of it. It was in bad shape.”

Rennick, who is with Queen City Draggers, has attended the Pumpkin Run for the past 15 years. He said he has a family of hot rodders, as both his son and son-in-law also had cars in the show.

Rennick gave his assessment of the Pumpkin Run weekend.

He said, “Typical – yesterday it rained, the day before it rained and today is beautiful.”

Amber Morgan comes every year with her fiancé and her two daughters, who are three and four years old. She has been coming for the past eight years and her fiancé has been coming since he was a kid.

Morgan said she and her daughters really enjoy looking at the cars. Her daughters’ favorite part is the hot wheel drag races, she said.

Beaumont loves the craft booth, while her husband’s favorite part is the swap meet. There really is something for everyone at the Pumpkin Run, Beaumont said.

Events include a dance contest, bean dinner, live music and DJs, valve cover races and hot wheel drag races. There are also games for children and vendors.

“It’s really a bargain,” Beaumont said.

The registration for a car includes so much that it’s almost as if the organizers are paying attendees to bring their car to the show, which is how it should be, Beaumont said.

Beaumont is very grateful to all the people that helped out with the show.

“We just couldn’t do this show without volunteers,” Beaumont said.

Beaumont is not sure how much money they will be giving to Shriner’s Burn Hospital for Children this year, but last December the Fastiques donated $60,000 to Shriners, bringing their total donations over the years to $910,000. The Fastiques have a check presentation in December.

Main Show Top 50 and special awards:

Gary Sizemore, Mike Stacey, Tom Knapp, Ron Collier, Steve Dugger , Neal Perkins, Keith Zimmerman, Don Vastine, Mike Geers, Mike Leto , Carl Miller, Jim Heuston, Doug Kammerer, Dave Hornschemeier, Craig Franks, Tim Delessandro, Danny Urton, Gary Koester, David Haynes, Carl Alexander, Tom & Donna Este, Russell Fisher, Ron Sachessel, Bud Ellis, Tom Palumbo, Joe Chapman, Richard Freedman, Jeremy Lilly, Mike Ash, Doug Cope, John Cummins, George Halk, Steve Tumbleson, Patrick & Gloria Cunnin, Tom Carter, Dave Vanderpool, Charlie Yapp, Wesley Greiwe, Don Blackburn, Jimmy Patterson, Mark Hasenstab, Larry Kraemer, Jack Grimes, Russel Boyles, Steve Rennick SR., Keith Carter, Don Nicholaus, Tim Rose, Travis Jones, Paul Kinman

Best Rat Rod: Justin Dotson, Good Guys Award: Mike Hahn, Lions Pride: Mike Geers, Club Participation: Hoodlum Alley, Show & Shine: Tom Ryan , DJ’S Pick: Rob Mullins , Long Distance: Jeff Coffey, NSRA Award: Don Doerger, Best Paint: John Masters, Best Engine: Gary McWain, Best Interior: Tom Schuler, Mike Acree Award: Charles Sheppard

Ford Country Top 20 and special awards:

Pam & James Thompson, Brad Hodgdon, Brad Brackett, Clifford Robbins, Randall Gott, Rusty Restelli, Tony Hartman, Mike Beckwith, Paula & Harold Gay, Terry McComas, Chris Adams, Gary Ray, Rick Mendenhall, Frank Butler, Richard Kirk, Victor & Debbie Collins, Cy Schmidt, Hunt, Bill Lewis, Wayne Carrier

Best Muscle Car: Bob Lawrence, Best Truck: Jim Melampy, Best Custom: Vince Ciganik, Best Street Rod: Gary Kirker, Best Ford: Charles Quehl

Bowtie Country Top 20 and special awards:

Dennis Ingram, Carol Jones, Patti Lucas, Dave Cunnigham, Tim Poole, Paul Francisco, John & Jason Milfield, Brad McGinnis, Gary Proctor, Pam Chandler, Myron Flaugher, Dave Smith, Chris Young, Jack Gehram, John Closer, Dennis Wiederhold, Ray Corry, Amanda Rath, Mike Toon, Rick Connelly

Best Muscle Car: John Howard, Best Truck: Mike Hahn, Best Custom: Bill Vogt, Best Street Rod: William Pribble, Best Bowtie: Todd Humphries

Mopar Country Top 20 and special awards:

Steve Pickers, Chuck Adams, Larry Rhoads, Jim Sudwarski, Gary Keplinger, Jeff Koesters, Karen Koesters, Howard Miller, Danny Dalton, Wayne Moore, Debbie Handy, Tim Klein, Dan Vaughn, Ed Sullivan, Dave Clemons, Stan Custer, Doug & Cheryl Taylor, Ed Hutchinson, Dennis Hamilton, Robert Napier

Best Muscle Car: Greg Russell, Best Truck: Ron & Mary Murphy, Best Custom: Bill Clark, Best Street Rod: Dave Maple, Best Mopar: Eric Gebert